Discussion -- September 2011 Challenge

[StormFeather]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

Well, it's in. I have to say that I've been bereft of any true inspiration until the last couple of days, and the final submission only reared itself in my conciousness this morning. Not sure if it'll be deemed to fit the theme enough, but it's the best I could do.

Now I can finally read through the other submissions - something I no longer do until I've submitted as I find myself feeling smaller and smaller amongst such a talented bunch and I know it would put me off. I only skim the stories now before I post to try and make sure I've not copied someone elses title, or come too close to their story.

Anyhoo, after a busy month (where I've developed rsi from too much knitting and crochett) I'm back!

 

[Bob Senior]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

Okay, I posted.

Not even anything remotely good, but if it helps the old man from getting beat about the head, it's worth it. (He's funny enough looking as it is, without all those lumps on the side of his head...)

Thanks Bob Jr. You are a chip off the old block you know, and people say that you look just like me. (I think that I'm better looking though)
Zebra, I don't know you well enough to test your sense of humor so for safetys sake, I keepa mya mouta shut.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

Zebra, I don't know you well enough to test your sense of humor so for safetys sake, I keepa mya mouta shut.

Aww, try me! I don't think anyone's ever found anything that didn't amuse me in one way or another, sooner or later.

 

[alchemist]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

This month it appears I will not be voting.

Later today I'm leaving for a two-week trek through Ireland.
Should be a wonderful time, but I don't plan on having much access to the internet.

Two weeks? How slow are you intending to walk? If you can slog to Donegal, I'll let you use my laptop

 

[Ursa major]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

I suspect that the two weeks may include crossing the Atlantic, which is a long walk given the weather at this time of year....

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

Hmm, September seems to have been a hard month for a few of us. I almost didn't enter myself. Now to see Hoopy, Gary, and Mouse not entering....disconcerting indeed.

 

[Parson]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

Storm and Judge too brilliant for words. I loved them both! "Soul feeding angels and others" and a real power behind the throne. A perfect rendition of behind the scenes.

 

[The Judge]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

Thank you, Parson! For one reason and another I've not had a lot of time to think about the 75 worder again this month, so it was rather scribbled this afternoon. And -- as ever -- it failed the Judicial Other Half test for incomprehensibility, so it had to be bashed about a bit to make it clearer. I'm glad this version worked.

 

[alchemist]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

I suspect that the two weeks may include crossing the Atlantic, which is a long walk given the weather at this time of year....

I hope he makes it. Right now, there's a satellite coming down on his head.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

Well, I finally got around to thinking about a story and writing it this afternoon. I hadn't even had time to read all the other stories until just before I posted mine (to make sure mine wasn't too similar to anything).

There are so many excellent contributions! It looks like a very good month.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

The Challenge is closed for entries. Now is the time to vote:

POLL SEPTEMBER CHALLENGE -- VOTE!!

 

[Perpetual Man]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

TEiN - I didn't know what to make of this one, I wanted to laugh, I wanted to feel uncomfortable, I worried that TEiN might get struck by lightning... all in all a clever take on the theme and a funny one at that, as long as it is taken with a pinch of salt.

RSliwinski - An unusual one, some excellent rhyming - I'm not quite sure what to make of it, but it feels to me a study of stardom, perhaps creating some false documentation... while all the while something more real waits.

Azrael098 - (First timer) And a cracking great entry too. The world seen through the eyes of a fallen politician, little more than another vagrant/underclass citizen with a past. Probably overlooked by all those around him, just another face.

Percival - (Not only another first timer, but a first post to boot!) A different take on the theme again, this time the curtain used literally to hide a spectacle, probably for dramatic effect, only for the creature to have torn the material, perhaps even a hint of intelligence in the creature, which really adds depth to the tale.

Stormfeather - A simple tale perhaps, but one that is done magnificently. A masterclass in the 75 word form, giving a full rounded story, that capture's both the theme and style eloquently. A beautiful take on angels and demons.

TJ - A brilliant title! And quite a good little tale too. A bit of misdirection it makes you think that it is a fantasy, when in fact it is science fiction. That being said it could quite easily encompass both genres at the same time which is rather clever.

Mith - Oooh, I liked this one a lot. A tale told from the point of view of a murder (fratricide) weapon. It give a real different flavour to the piece, and it could be told as a simple anthropomorphic tale, or maybe an actually sentient weapon. Great stuff.

Teresa - A cursed piece of jewellery that has probably manipulating things for years is over come and discarded. However there are always those weak willed who are vulnerable to temptation. Something that has been defeated rises once more. A great mini epic fantasy.

Cul - There's not much that can be said about this one., other than it was meant to be fantasy Cul, not reality. Lovely conclusion to the month's challenge, and it made me smile.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

Sorry about the double post, but I wanted to separate the post from my concluding comments:

I seemed to notice an awful lot of newcomers this month and wondered whether it was a record amount or not? Chris with his tables might help.

A bit strange for me, as I'm pretty much sure who I am voting for without going back through the stories. That being said it does not seem right to have some honourable mentions, so I shall do that before I vote.

And finally a quick thanks to Mith for the early vote, a very pleasant surprise on a fraught Saturday morning. No matter what happens I can say I was in a three way tie at one point this month!

 

[Mouse]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

I think it was obvious where my vote was going this month.

Gotta say I love TJ's title though.

 

[Percival]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

I admire Perpetual Man for giving comments on all the stories (including mine - he was too kind). So I thought I would do the same. Not being as good as some at reading the full meaning from stories, I've had to limit myself to the ones I thought I did understand. This is in no way a reflection on the quality of those I don't mention.

HareBrain

Dark and morally questionable (a new meaning to "she made me do it"?). The central character is remarkably complex and well-formed for such a restricted format.

Sid Hawkins

Wonderfully sinister overtones. And a whole unseen world conjured neatly in so few words.

alchemist

Could easily be a taut scene from a larger work. Deft and coherent. I based my own attempt on this style (though I didn't match the execution).

High Eight

Very clever in neatly evoking a world without exposition; both the horror of rubber-necking and its attraction brought together in one short piece. I too wonder what elephant tastes like.

Perpetual Man

A sort of prose poem. Thought provoking. I enjoyed the pay-off (as I understood it) - that there is no secret force powering the world we see. It's worse. It powers itself.

Highlander

This made me laugh. It has both an element of accuracy and a lovely sense of the inflated importance of the lowest underling.

Moonbat

I thought this was great; as an examination of unintended consequences and a humorous commentary on the limitations of present day systems.

Abernovo

Creates a world from just a few words very successfully. There's a sort of hollow earth feeling to it, with the secret minions (in a real sense) controlling everything, that links sci-fi and fantasy (the former becoming the latter...).

mosaix

A fractal story: at every level it would look the same. Very interesting. There was a hint that there might be no people which I found fascinating (and quite believable in that world).

Devil's Advocate

This is great, a really nice twist that turns the story upside down. And so well written for such a restricted form. Two conniving characters are summoned effortlessly from the details.

TheEndIsNigh

The premise is engagingly blasphemous, and the full ramifications were difficult to fathom. A neat commentary on the way history drifts.

The Judge

A clever play on words at the end. But the really neat thing is the multiple levels of "behind the scenes" this story invokes. Not just that the killing is behind the scenes, or that the counsellor is, but that "behind the scenes" of the ugly, misshapen counsellor is the true wise leader.

Culhwch

Beautifully written, and actually laugh out loud funny at the end. Captures a place very effectively, but the pay-off is wonderfully absurd. Imagining a giant gorilla trying to work in stop motion made my day.

 

[chrispenycate]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

I seemed to notice an awful lot of newcomers this month and wondered whether it was a record amount or not? Chris with his tables might help.

April 2010 – 43 new entries (all of us, no surprise), 4 of whom never posted again
May 2010 – 7 new entries, all of whom went on to post
June 2010 – 6 new entries, only two of whom went on to post again
July 2010 – 5 virgins, none of whom came back
August 2010 – 13 new posters, 8 of whom did at least one more submission
September 2010 – 7, with 3 returns
October 2010 – 8, 3 who came back
November 2010 – 5, and 2
December 2010 – 7, 4 of whom reappeared
January 2011 – 14! 8 did at least one more post
February 2011 – 7, and 4 posted again
March 2011 – 4 new but three of them went on
April 2011 10 new (happy birthday challenge), only 3 repeat offenders
May 2011 – only 2 newcomers, neither of whom stayed
June 2011 – 4 new faces, one stayed
July 2011 – Again 4, but it's getting a bit difficult to divide one time posters
August 2011 – 6 new.
September 2011 – 13 new entries

Swears at the formatting; that was in nice neat columns.
Close enough for rock n' roll? There might be an error or two crept in, but it's a good basis.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

Thanks for the comments Percival. It's always fun to see someone doing a me on one of my stories.

Chris I knew that you would be able to answer my question, thanks. So a very good month for newbies but not quite the best. Excellent all the same!

 

[Boneman]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

Yet another incredibly hard month to sort through - we must be due a month with two bonus votes as the Rugby World Cup is on, and someone's team will win it... No?

So, I got tough: I only included any that were SF or Fantasy, and with one tiny exception only those that were actual stories (beginning, middle, end type of thing) or my short list would have been challenged by those who know the law, as being defined as a 'long' list. I apologise to those left off, which is almost everyone...

Short list and shorter list:

Harebrain
Chel
Sid Hawkins
High Eight
Perpetual Man
Nixie
Parson
Mosaix
TDZ
Anyakimlin
Hex
The Judge
Culhwch

(Blimey, so many newcomers who are producing such good work.)

In the end I went with Chel: that story had lead from the beginning, but it was a very close thing between it and the other four. Any of them could have won, but it was a 'heart' decision, rather than a 'head'.

Well done to everyone in this fantastic challenge!

 

[AnyaKimlin]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

My story didn't have a full meaning . It was just two fairies prancing about on stage. OK better go and read - how do I vote just mention it here ? -- scrap that found the link.

Next month I may spend longer than 15 minutes on it

 

[Ursa major]

Re: Discussion September 2011 Writing Challenge

The link to the voting is in Teresa's post above (post#231) and also after the stories in their thread.